Method of making sweepsticks



Feb. 8, 1955 L.. R. HEIM 2,701,409

METHOD OF MAKING SWEEPSTICK Original Filed Aug. 5, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet l ,7 Il i rwentor lFeb. 8, `1955 l.. R. HEIM 2,701,409

METHOD OF MAKING SWEEPSTICK M axrornegs United StatesMPgf-of METHOD F MAKING SWEEPSTICKS Lewis R. Heim, Fairfield, Conn., assigner to The Heim Company, Fairfield, Conn., a corporation of Con-f necticut Original application August 5, 1949, Serial No. 108,704.

Divided and this application September 14, 195,0,

nai No. 184,802 Y 1 claim. (ci. 2st-149.5)

which is capable of lateral rocking movement to com?l pensate for misalignment without causing crai'npingff or other binding action, and in which this bearing `isuso constructed that it has locking means cooperating with the molded material to secure the bearingfinj-the sweep-1 stick.

A sweepstick is used in the mechanism` which forces the shuttle back and-.forth through Jthe shed. This operation involves a considerableishoclffto' the mechanism which is repeated -in feveryjoperation'l'of It is desirable to provide:this mechanismi the shuttle. l with sutiicient flexibility, yielding and resiliency which will absorb much of the shock incident to the 'operation of the shuttle and operating mechanism, to thus eliminate as far as possible breakage of the parts and reduce'fwear.

It is also desirable to have a bearing inthe sweepstich capable of compensating for misalignment without cramp-r ing or binding. In this invention these desirable results are secured by making either the whole body of the sweepstick, or at least a portion of it, of a flexible, resilient, yielding, shock-absorbing material, such, for example, as vulcanized rubber or other suitable plastic, or it could be of any other suitable yielding, resilient, shock-absorbing material capable of being molded about the bearing. A sweepstick of this material not only has a certain amount of yield or resiliency longitudinally to absorb longitudinal strains or shocks, but is also capable of a certain amount of lateral bending or yielding, and by molding in the sweepstick body comprising this material an improved bearing which is capable of lateral rocking movement, the construction effectively absorbs both longitudinal and lateral shock and also compensates for misalignment without binding or crampingfefiect. By molding the material about the bearing the bearinginay be readily locked and secured in position without danger of its working loose or becoming separated from the body of the sweepstick, and the operations of mounting the bearing in the sweepstick are decreased as the bearing may be mounted at the same time and with the operations of molding the body of the sweepstick. This construction greatly increases the life not only of the sweepstick itself,but also the connected mechanism with which it is used, and `improving operation or" the device as well as greatly increasing its operative life and efiiciency.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, I have devised the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, and the method of making it hereinafter described. It is, however, to be understood the invention is not limited to the specific details of construction and arrangement shown, but may embody various changes and modifications within the scope of the invention.

This application is a division of my prior application Serial No. 108,704, filed August 5, 1949, now Patent No. 2,592,566.

In these drawings:

2,701,409 Patented Feb. 8, 1955 Fig. 1 is a side elevation of one form of my improved sweepsticlr;`

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section throu h one end portion of the sweepstick, the other end po ion being shown in elevation;

Fig. 3 is a partial section and partial side elevation of the ring members of the` bearing shown in Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a partial -section and partial side elevation similar to Fig. 2 showing a slight modification;

Fig. 5 is a partial'section and partial side elevation of the bearing rings of Fig. 4;

f Fig. 6 is a side elevation showing another modified Fig. 7 is a partial longitudinal section and partial side view of the form of Fig-' 6, and

Fig. 8 is a partial longitudinal section and partial side elevation similar' to Fig. 7 showing another modification.

Referringfirst--to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the stick comprises abody i anysuitable cross section, preferably substantially. rectangular as shown, formed of some suitable yielding, resilient shock-absorbing material such, for ex ample, as vulcanized rubber or other plastics, which is suficientlyhard and rigid to-retain its shape and still havea certain amount of yield, resiliency and ilexibility toabs'orb shocks 'in operation but still will transmit the necessary force required=for `this operation. It may be a 'solidbarof this vulcanized .rubber or other plastics, or itcould contain :strengthening elements (not shown). At onel end it may havesa'bearing 11 for connection to the mechanism With f which it `is used, and this bearing maytbe'plain 'orotherrsuitable typ'e of bearing.

A-fAt'the ,oppositegend it lis provided with an improved bearing 'lzinclu'ding an element capable of lateral rockingmoverherit-to compensate for misalignment inthe parts connected 'bythissweepstickl In the form of Figs.

. l, 2 and 53;'this'bea'ring comprises a central metal member ljof .any-suitablematerial,` usually'steel, the outer surface 14 ofwhich "is spherical, and it is mounted in two supporting frings'l Vand 16 also of any suitable metal, usually bronze Aorsimilar material. These rings have a s'pherical'imersur'fce 17 corresponding with the outer surface 'of the spherical member 13 to permit rotary or rockingmovement of the member 13 in these rings. The member Y13 has la straight bearing 18 fior connection with the operating mechanism.' This bearing is mounted in the material of the body 10 by molding this material about thebearing. In doing this the bearing is first assembled by placing tlietwo rings 15 and 16 about the member 13, and preferably with their inner ends abutting, as shown at 19 in Fig. 2, and it is then supported by suitable means in the mold to locate it in proper position, and then the material is molded in the mold about the bearing. I f the material is a rubber mixture it may be vulcanized` by heatand pressure after molding. Means is provided on the bearing for cooperating with the molding material to lock or otherwise retain the bearing in proper position inthe molded element. In the form of Fig. 2 each ring 15 and 16 is provided with la peripheral outer flange 20 at its' inner end, which is of greater diameter than the body of the ring and the outer wall of which flange is preferably tapered or inclined as shown at 21. At the outer side of this flange the outer surface of the body of the ring between this taper and the outer end 22 of this ring is also preferably inclined or tapered, as shown at 23. `With this shape and structure, as the material of the bar is molded about the bearing, the bear ing will form a cavity in the material the surfaces of which correspond to the outer surfaces of the ring, and thus the ribs or flanges 20 will form a corresponding peripheral groove in the material which interlocks with the fianges to permanently and effectively mount the bearing in the bar and retain it in proper position therein. Additional means for preventing outward movement of the rings is also provided -by the tapered surfaces 23 cooperating with the molded material. The two rings are held together by the molded material.

The form of bearing 12 shown in Figs. 4 and 5 is substantially the same as that of Figs. 2 and 3, except that the rings 24 and 25 corresponding to the rings 15 and 16 of the first form, instead of being tapered or inclined on their outer surfaces between the inclined surfaces 26 of the ribs o r anges' 27 andthe'outer end 28 of the rings, is substant1ally-stra1ghtorcylindricah as shownat-29z @th the bearing is located and mounted in the body 10 by molding the material about' it, the same as in the iirst form, and; thetbearingvisetectively locked inthis material by the peripheral flanges or ribs 27 forming a correspond# ing groouenin .thelmoldedmaterial' and filling thisgroove.

In the form of die device .shown in-Figs. 6- and 7, the

bearing 12 is molded in the material of the body. land;

is .locked therein by. a suitable locking means on thebearing cooperating; withthe materialin asimilar manner to,

the forms of-Figs. 1 to, 5., lmthis form ofthe bearing, however, instead; of molding thebearing rings 30, and 31 for the. spherical bearing member .13: directly in thematerial of the body 10, they are mountedgin' an outer metal sleeve 32, this sleeve, hewevergbeing part of the vbearing structure, and the material of the body 10 is molded about the bearingthe 4samensin thenst-orms, but in this case is directly molded about .the sleeve 32.. sleeve is provided with iocking. means lcooperating with, the molded material of the body .toposition and retain the`.bearing in. this materiali.r In the form of Fig. 7 ,this sleeve. is provided withv a peripheral outer ange Aor rib 3-3 at the opposite. ends of: the sleeve; with a body portion34 between these flanges oflless; diameter, so as to provide between. the

flanges -a wide peripheral groove4 which is` filled by the-A molded material to effectively lockL the bearing in the vbody member. The inner side walls `of theperipheral anges 33 are preferablyv inclined' or; tapered, `as shown at 35,.

In. this constructiomthe ,bearing 13 isA mounted., in the sleeve 3,2.,byforcingztwo. metal rings 3 6 simultaneously againstgthe, opposite sides ofbearing-member 13.A These rings 36, as.shown in dotted lines, have an, exterior cylindrical-surface 37 whichis of :substantially the diameter of 1 the entrance opening 3 8 ofaninclinedz socket 39-; in the. sleeve-32, the wall ofA the socket taperingv inwardly and outwardly, so thatits diameter atits inner end is larger than the diameter of inlet openingt38. ,,It ,W.il1-fbe noted there are `'two of these socketslonoppositesides of a ,central rib 40.. The inner surface ofl the ring 36 is partly spherical as shown at 421,` and substantially straight adjacent its inner end as, shown at42,` the 'diameter `of this inner surfacebeing .less than the diameter of the spherical. surface 14 of the member- 13, so` that' when these two rings are forced inwardlyagainst the member 13, thev inner-end of the ring will contact the, surface `of the memfber 13 a short distance within the entrance opening 38 or; at about the point 43, and as they are further forced; against the member 13 the spherical surface of this member will expand 'the rings outwardly so that they will till the sockets 39 in thel sleeve 32,3and will cause the inner surfaces 30a and 31aof the rings to assume the spherical surfaceof the member 13. This method of assembling the bearing and `mounting the member 13 in rings. 30 and 31,

as shown in Fig. 7., is the methodV of my prior. Patent No.

2,400,506, dated May 26, `1946.

In the form shown in- Fig. 8, the bearing member 13 and the supporting rings 30 and-31 for this member are the same as shown in Fig. 7, and 'these bearing members are assembled inthe same way in an. outer metal sleeve 44. This bearing is molded in, the body member 10 the same .as in the forms above described. The locking means for retaining the bearing inthis material is, however,

erwise,

somewhat diiferent. In this case the sleeve 44 is provided` with a peripheral groove 45 atsubstantiallythetransverse center thereof, and it is beveled at its outer edges, as shown at 46. When the body of the material is molded about this bearing it will flow into and ll the groove 45 and also ow. over the beveled surfaces 46, thus forming cooperating ribs and grooves for locking the bear-ingi-n themoldedfxnaterial, ,fhe portion 47 of the, sleeve between the groove 45, and the bevel 46 is really in etect, a, rib or-ange embedded in the molded material in a correspondingly shaped groove to lock the bearing in the bar.

It will be .seenfromthe above that in all the forms of t the device shown, ,the bearing is molded in the flexible the body of the sweepstick; also, thatin each form., the

bearing andg the, material have cooperating` ribs and. grooves for locking the bearing in the body members, 1t will be understood that other shapes and arrangements of locking means may be used.

This construction andarrangement provides a very effective means` for mounting and securing the bearing in the body of the sweepstick, and the operation of mounting this bearing in the sweepstick can be performed in the same operation asthat of forming the stick, eliminating separate operations .for this purpose. Also, this molded construction effectively locks the bearing in the material so, that there isno Adanger of its working loose or shifting out of position, and4 therefore it will main-4 tain its proper position: in the sweepstick indefinitely.

1Ijlaving thus set forth the nature of my invention-,HL c aim:

A method of; making a sweepstick for looms and the like which, comprises providing' a sleeve with externallocking means, Vassembling in said sleeve a spherical bear- 1 ing member by pressiuga pair of separate supporting rings Sleeve,` and mountingthe bearing by molding a connecting bar of nonmetallic resilient material about said sleeve and against and interlocking with the locking means to yieldingly mount and retain the bearing in the bar.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,867,540 Rosenberg July 12, 1932 1,895,093 Carlson Jan. 24, 1933 1,903,776 Clark et al. Apr. 18, 1933 2,005,004l Peo lune 18, 1935 2,181,136 Knox Nov. 28, 1939 2,182,487 Chadbourne et al. Dec. 5, 1939 2,366,668 Heim Ian. 22, 1945 2,381,391 Brown' Aug. 7, 1945 2,445,745 Moe July 20, 1948 2,476,728 Heim July 19, 1949 2,592,566 Heim Apr. 15, 1952 

